Vacation Blog, Part One...

A day before our cruise is scheduled to dock and we’re to exit the ship, I must blog (albeit off line) about the experience… because as a mom of two preschoolers, it’s been a doosy.  The ride down from home to the ship was long, yet the boys were quiet and calm, overall.  No meltdowns, no serious issues whatsoever.  The last half hour the clock was ticking down and they’d just had it… which was completely understandable and acceptable.  Ironically the day after, as we boarded the cruise ship, God love em, they were horrific nightmare children.  They were so excited to finally be on “the big boat” that they couldn’t contain themselves.  They screamed and cried throughout the boarding process (which, thankfully was done while we were in our car, driving).  They ran off the minute we got into customs, and throughout the trip, well… let’s say they’ve become well known little boys.

After waking up each morning and dressing, we (children) grab our room key necklaces and charge out the door, screaming “I push buttons!!” as our brother screams “NO!!  I push buttons!!” and so on, until we reach the elevator.  Upon getting to the elevator we begin pounding on the up/down buttons until the elevator arrives, laughing like fools (and while mommy and daddy continue telling us no, stop!).  Once in the elevator we push every button except the red lit one—because we’ve learned through experience that is the 911 button for the ship.  We got into trouble for that already.  When we get to the breakfast/lunch/dinner buffet we run like fools to the drink area where we fill our cups with juice and ask to eat outside—as either mommy or daddy manages three plates of food while we sit, enjoying the oceanic view.  After eating we typically run aboard the Lito Deck (where we’ve just eaten) and get on stage to “dance”, though to most adults watching, it appears like I’m playing/destroying the life sized chess set the boat has up there.  We’ve slowed down on smashing the pieces into the ground, now we just ride them like we’re at a rodeo.

We’ve gone to two places in the Bahamas.. Nassau and Freeport (commonly known as Grand Bahama Island).  Nassau we walked through town where the boys managed to woo the natives into giving them toys galore.  I believe we have a broken wooden car, broken wooden airplane, a few t-shirts, several maracas (one that’s been broken and sprayed a powdery mixture), two “walking turtles” and two straw Nemo fedora’s—all for a mere $100 or so.  We also took a tour and boarded a semi-submarine which took us to three areas of reef to see several tropical fish.  We were lucky to see an 8ft long sand shark laying at the bottom of the ocean as well—which was amazing to us as tourists and just as amazing to the tour guide as well.  After we finished our tour we went into customs and hung out a while.  There was a band that welcomed us in and Kaeden managed to bust out his maracas and jump into song with them.  It shouldn’t have been a shock when he ended up on stage jamming with the locals—but it was, none the less.

Freeport was far different in some aspects to Nassau.  Nassau was a more expensive area—lots of expensive designer shops while Freeport was devastated a few years back by a hurricane.  Most of their tourist area is destroyed.  There was a market about fifteen minutes into town at Port Lucaya, and also a beach we were able to visit.  There was so much devistation that when Joel yelled "ooh wow!!" after seeing a Burger King with a playland the taxi driver said "Well, I haven't heard those words from anyone in quite some time!"  In Port Lucaya, the boys went crazy as we saw and played in the ocean for the first time.  Kaeden ran to the sand and began to immediately roll in it—as though he’d just entered his own personal heaven.  Joel however wanted desperately to get to the water, preferably without having to touch any sand whatsoever.  After a short while both boys were just thrilled to run, play, jump, and splash around.  It was great fun, and we had plenty of opportunities to get great pictures as well.  After the beach we did a little shopping at the local market and had an authentic overly-priced Bahamian lunch.  While the boys (daddy included) got very Americanized food, I tried fried conch.  …glad for the experience as well as the awareness that I don’t like conch.

The night we left Freeport the boat had a great celebration and a bunch of dancing with a band on the boys favorite stage, on the Lito deck.  There was a band and dancers on the stage, with several people dancing below it… and when Joel said he was going to dance, I didn’t think anything of it… until I realized he had gone through the crowd and began his way on stage with his crew.  Mortified I began yelling “Joel, get down!!” thinking he’d be in trouble or that he would get hurt.  As I hadn’t expected Kaeden to get on stage in Nassau and jam with the locals—I didn’t expect that the locals on the boat would embrace Joel and get him jamming right along with them.  There is a video on board of Joel, on stage, doing what his bio siblings introduced me to as “the dougie” (though friends of mine call it “waddle”).  Ahh, to be young and uninhibited again.

And now we’re into our last full cruise day… prepared to leave tomorrow.  We’ve got another few days or so ahead of us in several different areas of the southeast.  Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, FL; and Chattanooga, TN along with trying to stop through Alabama at some point—just simply to say we’ve been there.  After that our boys will have been to:

Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia I believe (meaning, I don’t believe there are any more states they’ve visited at this point).  15 of 50 down in a mere three years… 35 left to go.

Murphy always wins, sort of.

Yesterday was probably one of the best days I've had being Joel and Kaeden's mom... not perfect, but a reall  y fun/great day.  I can see the light at the end of the toddler tantrum tunnel these days and I believe it's gonna be a fun one, someday soon.

For those unaware, we've been potty training for oh, a lifetime now (really I believe about four months).  Kaeden is pretty much done, he gets it.  He wears a diaper to sleep but overall is totally good to go throughout the day (even naptime--he has his own little potty in his room).  Joel is totally different.  He doesn't independently ask when he has the urge--he still has to be scheduled (though is willing and tries every time you say "let's try to go pee pee on the potty).  Joel does not poop on the potty, ever.  He will run off into a corner and be private about his defecation... he doesn't warn you or ask for a diaper even, he just goes.  The other night I took the boys to a McDonald's with a monsterous play land.  They LOVED it.  When they are usually "I'll eat then play" kind of kids--I couldn't get them to stop and eat... they were far too busy.  Well, Joel had a #2 accident before we went in and lost his underpants (because they were dirty and I didn't have a change of clothes).  While playing in the tubes I noticed him grabbing his pants and pulling them back behind his butt.  He'd soiled his pants (after the first incident) and it was EVERYWHERE.  I was livid.  I didn't have more clothes--so I took him out of the restaurant covered in MY coat.  He was devistated because there was no way he could continue playing in that play area.  The ride home (was about an hour) he was hysterical, crying, screaming, begging even to go back.  I told him--we will not go to another McDonald's play land until you start to poop in a potty!! 

Two days later, my boy, came up to me and said "McDonald's today!!"  I told him no, because he hadn't pooped in a potty yet.  He said "I poo poo in potty", and ran to the bathroom.  And... he did, right there.  For the first time at home, he pooped in that toilet like he had been doing it for years.  It was amazing.


After that, I packed the boys up and we went to church so I could speak to a group about our adoption through foster care story.  It was a great time and I love to tell the story of how God worked through our lives even in the depths of our despair and depression to make us parents of these two amazing little boys (and how we had the opportunity to love the little girl we fostered and were blessed enough to see her return to her very loving mother--who continues to allow us contact if we choose).  It was a great time.

When I picked the kids up from the daycare at church, they decided to run into a field where they both know they're not supposed to go (because there's no way but to chase them down to catch them--I can't corner them, hah).  They wouldn't come and each time I ran to get them they'd dart different ways, etc.  So, I told them I was going to McDonald's and if they didn't want to come they didn't have to.  I got into the car, they stood watching.  I turned the ignition on.  They again, stood watching.  I put the car into gear, not a movement.  I backed up and began toward my "exit" of the parkinglot (of course, watching them the whole time.  They both ran like crazy after the car.  I stopped about six stalls down from where I was parked and got them in the car.  Score.  One mom, Kids zero.  Joel kept saying "mommy's come back, no go away!"  Trickery, and yes, I'm very proud that I scored one over on two toddlers!

(seriously, you don't know them, they're trickery double teamed)

McDonald's was great.  Joel said he had to go "pee pee potty" and so we all went.  They played, Joel ate SIX chicken nuggets, fries, and apples.  Kaeden was more a usual suspect with the two nuggets and his little fries as well as the bag of apples.  They played hard, and had a great time.  Overall a very easy and fun visit.  No serious complications.

After McDonald's we had a few errands to run, but it was overall kind of fun. Sams Club with toddlers.. perfect portions for them :)  And, because it is so close to Thanksgiving/Christmas, they had several types of samples to try... macaroni and cheese, ham, potatoes, beef roast, wine (though not so much for the boys on that one :P).  It was great.  And besides the experience watching ourselves make silly faces and bang into things with the security camera's we did great (me not snapping on the boys and the boys being well behaved). 

After Sams Club we went to this restaurant that advertises "Kids Eat Free!!"  and figured it was a family restaurant (was a restaurant I felt was adult specific, but hey if you advertise stuff to parents about bringing their kids... it turns it into a family experience, no?)  The first booth they put us in was upstairs and the wall next to us was more loft like--had no protection from the level below (as in, the wall was as high as the table).  The boys threw everything they could get their hands on down below (thankfully there was no one sitting back there).  When the fear began to hit that the boys themselves could want to jump down that--we moved.  The next booth had a television but it was set to music videos and you couldn't change the channel :(  So my very tired children began acting up.  They were mostly silly obnoxious, but it was irritating regardless.  When we had finished eating I begged for the check.  As that came I stood up to get my wallet and keys out of my purse and Joel took it upon himself to follow my lead.  What I didn't realize was that our booth was next to (and by next to, I mean you step out and one foot would be half on the floor and half not) stairs.  Joel tumbled down those stairs, backwards, onto his head/neck.  My poor baby.  I'm crying as I write this because as a mom you just never want to see your child hurt... and not hurt in a serious manner. 

He was hysterical, and I was horrified.  I didn't knwo what to do or how to fix it.  I just held him, rubbing his back.  After about ten minutes of crying I asked him where he had owies.  He pointed to his neck.  His neck?!  No.... please God no.  So, off to the ER we went (thankfully daddy was getting home from work, so he picked up Kaeden).  It turned out to be muscle related, but that time in the ER was precious... to see this little boy, my baby, acting like such a big boy.  Nurses would ask him "what happened" and he said "I fall out a booth down stairs get owie my neck".  ...that same child who didn't talk a year ago.  He was precious.  He hung out initially in the chair next to me to tell his tale.  He later decided he wanted to get into the bed.  He crawled up into it and pulled the gown up over him and said "it blanket Mommy".  He then told me he was going night night.  Poor kid was tired, and trying to sleep on a gurney. 

So, that was my day... and I'm praying for calm today.  I'm looking forward to low-key, home stuff.  Daddy had to go back to work and may not have a day off until we leave for our trip later this week.  And, that's okay.  Because we have Daddy exclusively for ten days after that.  "Yay!"

Have an amazing Thanksgiving... and God bless.
Joel and Kaeden's usually frazzled and overtired Mommy :)

Travel... my plans.

I am in my mid thirties.  I have traveled a little bit in my time on earth, usually through family vacations with other families as a child or as an adult to random places throughout the US.  Only once, in my life, have I left this country.  And, as much as I truly believe I am less traveled than most--the older I get the more I realize I am more blessed than I know. 

We went away for the weekend with some friends to a water park hotel.  We went to celebrate Kaeden's adoption and that we don't have to ask permission from anyone to do anything with OUR son :)  We had a great time, but were shocked to find out that our friends daughter (slightly older than Joel) had never stayed in a hotel before.  It was adorable... but it made me realize, we really do lived a blessed life.

One of my goals (amongst a bazillion others) for my children is that they get to see all fifty states in their home country.  Any additional countries are a bonus, but overall, they are going to (if it kills me) see the US, in it's entirety.  On this goal, we've hit 10 so far, three years in.  Not too bad.  We're 20% of the way there.  We have another trip planned (far bigger) where we're taking a cruise to the Bahama's... and we'll go through an additional five states, finishing off our ventures to the south eastern portion of the US.  But along with that, my children, my babies, have their first passports.  It is kind of sad, somewhat, that my two year old, my three year old and I (as well as their dad) got our first passports together, hah.  But hey, we're going forward with a goal to educate and inspire our boys to love travel... and hope that one day they'll be passionate about learning of other cultures and countries too :)

In a few short weeks, we're heading off, onto "the big boat" to enjoy life as a family of four... and maybe, just maybe, we'll come back and become a family of five (or not... which is just fine too).